Birth of a Reformation; Or, The Life and Labors of Daniel S. WarnerByers, A. L. (Andrew L.)
Religion
Birth of a Reformation; Or, The Life and Labors of Daniel S. Warner
Byers, A. L. (Andrew L.)
Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) -- History; Warner, D. S. (Daniel Sidney), 1842-1895
After meeting was dismissed we heard that Ezekiel R----, an old
man eighty-two or eighty-three years of age, who lived one mile
and a quarter east of the schoolhouse, had that day been killed
by the cars in crossing the track at Shelby. I knew the man from
my boyhood; he bought out my father in that country in 1853. He
was very wealthy. God had blessed him with long life, prosperity,
and good health. But he had no thanks to offer to his divine
Benefactor, having set his whole heart upon the god of this world.
There was no place for Christ in his heart. He leaned toward
Universalism, because congenial to the carnal mind. He was filled
with skepticism and was always in the habit of speaking lightly
of preachers and professors of religion. I visited him twice
during the meeting at Auburn last winter and conversed with him
on the subject of religion. He acknowledged that there is one
thing in the Bible that caused him to study a good deal, and that
is the new birth, which he said, was perfectly dark to him. He
told of having once gone to hear one of the greatest champions of
Universalism preach on the subject. "But," said he, "I received no
light whatever." His case was a clear fulfilment of 1 John 2:11,
"Darkness hath blinded his eyes," and 2 Cor. 4:4, "The God of
this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." He
had a very large development of brain, of which firmness was the
largest developed organ. What a pity that the devil perverted these
faculties!
I was informed that he was going that day to close a mortgage and
take a widow's farm from her. His last words to his wife, who
cautioned him to beware of the cars at the crossing, were, "I was
not made to be killed by the cars." This is like one who said to
his soul, "Thou hast much laid up for many days; eat, drink, and
be merry." But God said "Thou fool! this night shall thy soul be
required of thee." He said "I was not made to be killed by the
cars." But God said, "Thou fool! this day shalt thou be killed by
the cars." His brains were dashed out and strewn along the road.
His body was much mangled. But his poor soul has gone with all its
guilt to where another rich man opened his eyes in torment.
The entry for the 24th, which was Sunday, records his preaching a
farewell sermon to the congregation at New Washington, and also his
reference to the revival held there in February, 1871. He had had the
care of the congregation there.
=25.= I and Bro. S. Kline came to Conlay's, near Annapolis,
Crawford County, Ohio, and began my first protracted effort in the
name of Christ. Preached from Psa. 85:6,7. A good interest was
manifested. Oh that God would visit the place in power, save many
precious souls, and raise up a people for his name!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account